Hebrews 10:26-31 The Fourth Warning Passage on Apostasy

This presentation concerns the second exhortation (vv. 26-31) of the larger macro unit, which extends from 10:19-39. This unit begins with a quite general warning against willful christian sinners (vv. 26-27). Like the previous unit that was focused on three hortatory subjunctives, this pericope likewise is theologically defined by 3 substantive participles occuring in v. 29. They ground the unit so that the general statement concerning the loss of salvation or loss of remedial sacrifice (v. 26) is now well understood to be "theological apostasy." In verses 28-29 there is a Qal vaHomer argument or an a fortiori agrument from lesser to greater, which give shape and meaning to the general warning given in v. 26. In the argument concerning the greater punishment (v. 29) the author lays out three actions that would qualify for apostasy. These are 1) trampling on the Son of God, 2) treating the blood of Christ to be profane, common, plain or non-efficacious, and lastly 3) insulting the Spirit of grace. These aspects of v. 29 define the willful persistent sinner of v. 26, and gives a crystal clear warning against theological apostasy that denies the mission and work of Christ and which insult the Spirit of God. Retribution theology is a main concern for the author's warning concerning apostates as the enemies of God who oppose Him as an adversary (v. 27) and the scriptural basis statements in v. 30 likewise underscore the punishment as retribution. There it says vengeance is mine I will repay. This does not refer to some kind of disciplinary theology as commonly supposed in 1 Cor. 3:15. This concerns eternal hell which is likewise alluded to in the author's own final summary statement given in v. 31 - it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.